Wedding Booklets

Please download a template for your wedding service below, plus all optional material that may be inserted into the booklet.You can use one of these templates. • Wedding without Mass (docx) / (pdf)• Wedding with Mass (docx) / (pdf)• Weddings between a Catholic and a non-Christian (docx) / (pdf)• Texts for weddings (docx) / (pdf)

Copy the required template onto your own computer then work your way through all the optional additions.• Delete everything in boxes and replace it with required material. • Please choose and insert optional material from options on this file. • Texts must not be changed, nor other material added without consultation with the priest. • Submit the final draft to the priest celebrating your marriage before printing booklets. • Bring a few copies of your booklet to your rehearsal.THANK YOU.

Texts for Your Wedding Booklet OPTIONS AWELCOME

Choose one of the following two options and insert into your booklet.A1 (52)Priest : We have come rejoicing into the house of the Lord for this celebration, dear brothers and sisters, and now we stand with N1. and N2. on the day they intend to form a home of their own. For them this is a moment of unique importance. So let us support them with our affection, with our friendship, and with our prayers as their brothers and sisters. Let us listen attentively with them to the word that God speaks to us today. Then, with holy Church, let us humbly pray to God the Father, through Christ our Lord, for this couple, his servants, that he lovingly accept them, bless them and make them always one.

A2 (53)Priest: N1. and N2., the Church shares your joy and warmly welcomes you, together with your families and friends, as today, in the presence of God our Father, you establish between yourselves a partnership of the whole of life. May the Lord hear you on this your joyful day. May he send you help from heaven and protect you. May he grant you your hearts’ desire and fulfill every one of your prayers.

OPTIONS B OPENING PRAYERChoose one of the following options and insert into your booklet.

B 1 (223)Priest: O God, who consecrated the bond of Marriage by so great a mystery that in the wedding covenant you foreshadow the Sacrament of Christ and his Church, grant, we pray, to these your servants, that what they receive in faith they may live out in deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.All: Amen.

B 2 (224)Priest: O God, who in creating the human race willed that man and wife should be one, join, we pray, in a bond of inseparable love these your servants who are to be united in the covenant of Marriage, so that, as you make their love fruitful, they may become, by your grace, witnesses to charity itself. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.All: Amen.

B 3 (225)Priest: Be attentive to our prayers, O Lord, and in your kindness pour out your graces on these your servants (N1 and N2), that, coming together before your altar, they may be confirmed in love for one another. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.All: Amen.

B 4 (226)Priest: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that these your servants, now to be joined by the Sacrament of Matrimony, may grow in the faith they profess and enrich your Church with faithful offspring. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.All: Amen.

B 5 (227)Priest: Be attentive to our prayers, O Lord, and in your kindness uphold what you have established for the increase of the human race, so that the union you have created may be kept safe by your assistance. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.All: Amen.

B 6 (228)Priest: O God, who since the beginning of the world have blessed the increase of offspring, show favour to our supplications and pour forth the help of your blessing on these your servants (N1 and N2), so that in the union of Marriage they may be bound together in mutual affection, in likeness of mind, and in shared holiness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever..All: Amen.

OPTIONS C FIRST READINGThe readings (except the Gospel) are normally read by one, or more, of your guests; please ensure that they are good readers and that they are well rehearsed. The first reading may be omitted. In this case choose a reading from options E – second reading and insert it into the place of the first reading. Then, after the responsorial psalm omit all reference to a second reading and continue with the gospel acclamation.At least one reading that explicitly speaks of Marriage must be chosen. These readings are designated by an asterisk ‘*’.Choose one of these options and insert into your booklet.

*C 1 (179)Reader: A reading from the book of Genesis (1:26-28, 31)God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.’ God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it. Be masters of fish of the sea, the birds of heaven and all living animals on the earth.’ God saw all that he had made, and indeed it was very good. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

*C 2 (180)Reader: A reading from the book of Genesis (2:18-24)The Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helpmate.’ So from the soil the Lord God fashioned all the wild beasts and all the birds of heaven. These he brought to the man to see what he would call them; each one was to bear the name the man would give it. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of heaven and all the wild beasts. But no helpmate suitable for man was found for him. So the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep. And while he slept, he took one of his ribs and enclosed it in flesh. The Lord God built the rib he had taken from the man into a woman, and brought her to the man. The man exclaimed: ‘This at last is bone from my bones, and flesh from my flesh! This is to be called woman, for this was taken from man.’ This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife, and they become one body. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

*C 3 (181)Reader: A reading from the book of Genesis. (24:48-51, 58-67)Abraham’s servant said to Laban, ‘I blessed the Lord, God of my master Abraham, who had so graciously led me to choose the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. Now tell me whether you are prepared to show kindness and goodness to my master; if not, say so, and I shall know what to do.’ Laban and Bethuel replied, ‘This is from the Lord; it is not in our power to say yes or no to you. Rebekah is there before you. Take her and go; and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has decreed.’ They called Rebekah and asked her, ‘Do you want to leave with this man?’ ‘I do,’ she replied. Accordingly they let their sister Rebekah go, with her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. They blessed Rebekah in these words:‘Sister of ours, increase to thousands and tens of thousands!May your descendants gain possession of the gates of their enemies!’Rebekah and her servants stood up, mounted thecamels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and departed. Isaac, who lived in the Negeb, had meanwhile come into the wilderness of the well of Lahai Roi. Now Isaac went walking in the fields as evening fell, and looking up saw camels approaching. And Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her camel, and asked the servant, ‘Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?’ The servant replied, ‘That is my master’; then she took her veil and hid her face. The servant told Isaac the whole story, and Isaac led Rebekah into his tent and made her his wife; and he loved her. And Isaac was consoled for the loss of his mother. The word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

*C 4 (182)Reader: A reading from the book of Tobit. (7:6-14)Raquel kissed Tobias and wept. Then finding words, he said, ‘Blessings on you, child! You are the son of a noble father. How sad it is that someone so virtuous and full of good deeds should have gone blind!’ He fell on the neck of his kinsman Tobias and wept. And his wife Edna wept for him, and so did his daughter Sarah. Raguel killed a sheep from the flock, and they gave Tobias and Raphael a warmhearted welcome. They washed and bathed and sat down at table. Then Tobias said to Raphael, ‘Brother Azarias, will you ask Raguel to give me my sister Sarah. Raguel overheard the words, and said to the young man, ‘Eat and drink, and make the most of your evening; no one else has the right to take my daughter Sarah – no one but you, my brother. In any case I, for my own part, am not at liberty to give her to anyone else, since you are her next of kin. However, my boy, I must be frank with you: I have tried to find a husband for her seven times among our kinsmen, and all of them have died the first evening, on going to her room. But for the present, my boy, eat and drink; the Lord will grant you his grace and peace.’ Tobias spoke out, ‘I will not hear of eating and drinking till you have come to a decision about me’. Raguel answered, ‘Very well. Since, as prescribed by the Book of Moses, she is given to you, heaven itself decrees she shall be yours. I shall therefore entrust your sister to you. From now you are her brother and she is your sister. She is given to you from today for ever. The Lord of heaven favour you tonight, my child, and grant you his grace and peace.’ Raguel called for his daughter Sarah, took her by the hand and gave her to Tobias with these words, ‘I entrust her to you; the law and the ruling recorded in the Book of Moses assign her to you as your wife. Take her; take her home to your father’s house with a good conscience. The God of heaven grant you a good journey in peace.’ Then he turned to her mother and asked her to fetch him writing paper. He drew up the marriage contract, how he gave his daughter as bride to Tobias according to the ordinance in the Law of Moses. After this they began to eat and drink. The word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

*C 5 (183)Reader: A reading from the book of Tobit. (8:4-8)On the evening of their marriage, Tobias said to Sarah, “You and I must pray and petition our Lord to win his grace and his protection.” She stood up, and they began to pray for protection, and this was how they began: “You are blessed, O God of our fathers; blessed, too, is your name, for ever and ever. Let the heavens bless you and all things you have made for evermore. It was you who created Adam, you who created Eve, his wife, to be his help and support; and from these two, the human race was born. It was you who said: “It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make him a helpmate like himself.” And so I do not take my wife for lustful motive, I do it in singleness of heart. Be kind enough to have pity on her and on myself and bring us to old age together.” And together they said: “Amen, Amen.” The word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

*C 6 (184)Reader: A reading from the book of Proverbs (31:10-13,19-20,30-31) The perfect wife – who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls. Her husband’s heart has confidence in her, from her he will derive no little profit. Advantage and not hurt she brings him all the days of her life. She is always busy with wool and with flax, she does her work with eager hands. She sets her hands to the distaff, her fingers grasp the spindle. Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty; the woman who is wise is the one to praise. Give her a share in what her hands have worked for, and let her works tell her praises at the city gates. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

*C 7 (185)Reader: A reading from the Song of Songs (2:8-10, 14, 16; 8:6-7) I hear my Beloved. See how he comes leaping on the mountains, bounding over the hills. My Beloved is like a gazelle, like a young stag. See where he stands behind our wall. He looks in at the window, he peers through the lattice. My Beloved lifts up his voice, he says to me, ‘Come then, my love, my lovely one, come. My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock, in the coverts of the cliff, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is beautiful.’ My beloved is mine and I am his. Set me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is strong as Death, jealousy relentless as Sheol. The flash of it is a flash of fire, a flame of the Lord himself. Love no flood can quench, no torrents drown. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

*C 8 (186)Reader: A reading from the book of Ecclesiasticus (26:1-4,16-21)Happy the husband of a really good wife; the number of his days will be doubled. A perfect wife, is the joy of her husband, he will live out the years of his life in peace. A good wife is the best of portions, reserved for those who fear the Lord; rich or poor, they will be glad of heart; cheerful of face, whatever the season. The grace of a wife will charm her husband, her accomplishments will make him stronger.A silent wife is a gift from the Lord, no price can be put on a well trained character. A modest wife is a boon twice over, a chaste character cannot be weighed on scales. Like the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord is the beauty of a good wife in a well-kept house.The word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

C 9 (187)Reader: A reading from the prophet Jeremiah (31:3132a,33-34a)See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel (and the House of Judah), but not a covenant like the one I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. No, this is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel when those days arrive – it is the Lord who speaks. Deep within them I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I will be their God and they shall be my people. There will be no further need for neighbour to try to teach neighbour, or brother to say to brother, ‘Learn to know the Lord!’ No, they will all know me, the least no less than the greatest – it is the Lord who speaks. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

OPTIONS D RESPONSORIAL PSALMChoose one of the options and insert into your booklet.

D 1 (202) (Psalm 32)Reader: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.All: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

They are happy, whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen as his own.The Lord looks on those who revere him,on those who hope in his love.All: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Our soul is waiting for the Lord.The Lord is our help and our shield.In him do our hearts find joy.We trust in his holy name.All: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

May your love be upon us, O Lord,as we place all our hope in you.All: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

D 2 (203) (Psalm 33)Reader: I will bless the Lord at all times.All: I will bless the Lord at all times.I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips,in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.The humble shall hear and be glad.All: I will bless the Lord at all times.

Glorify the Lord with me.Together let us praise his name.I sought the Lord and he answered me;from all my terrors he set me free. All: I will bless the Lord at all times.

Look towards him and be radiant;let your faces not be abashed.This poor man called;the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress.All: I will bless the Lord at all times.

The angel of the Lord is encampedaround those who revere him, to rescue them.Taste and see that the Lord is good.He is happy who seeks refuge in him.All: I will bless the Lord at all times.

D 3 (204) (Psalm 102)Reader: The Lord is kind and merciful.All: The Lord is kind and merciful.My soul, give thanks to the Lord,all my being, bless his holy name.My soul, give thanks to the Lordand never forget all his blessings.All: The Lord is kind and merciful.

The Lord is compassion and love,slow to anger and rich in mercy.As a father and mother have compassion on their children,the Lord has pity on those who fear him. All: The Lord is kind and merciful.

The love of the Lord is everlastingupon those who hold him in fear;his justice reaches out to children’s childrenwhen they keep his covenant in truth. All: The Lord is kind and merciful.

D 4 (205) (Psalm 111)Reader: Happy are those who do what the Lord commands.All: Happy are those who do what the Lord commands.

Happy the man who fears the Lord,who takes delight in his commands.His sons will be powerful on earth;the children of the upright are blessed.All: Happy are those who do what the Lord commands.

Riches and wealth are in his house;his justice stands firm for ever.He is light in the darkness for the upright:he is generous, merciful and just.All: Happy are those who do what the Lord commands.

The good man takes pity and lends,he conducts his affairs with honour.The just man will never waver:he will be remembered for ever.All: Happy are those who do what the Lord commands.

He has no fear of evil news;with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.With a steadfast heart he will not fear;he will see the downfall of his foes.All: Happy are those who do what the Lord commands.

Open-handed, he gives to the poor;his justice stands firm for ever.His head will be raised in glory.All: Happy are those who do what the Lord commands.

D 5 (206) (Psalm 127)Reader: Happy are those who fear the Lord.All: Happy are those who fear the Lord.O blessed are those who fear the Lordand walk in his ways!By the labour of our hands you shall eat.You will be happy and prosper.All: Happy are those who fear the Lord.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vinein the heart of your house;your children like shoots of the olive,around your table.All: Happy are those who fear the Lord.

Indeed thus shall be blessedthe man who fears the Lord.May the Lord bless you from Zionall the days of your life!All: Happy are those who fear the Lord.

D 6 (207) (Psalm 144)Reader: The Lord is compassionate to all his creatures.All: The Lord is compassionate to all his creatures.The Lord is kind and full of compassion,slow to anger, abounding in love.How good is the Lord to all,compassionate to all his creatures.All: The Lord is compassionate to all his creatures.

All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,and your friends shall repeat their blessing.The eyes of all creatures look to youand you give them their food in due time.All: The Lord is compassionate to all his creatures.

The Lord is just in all his ways and loving in all his deeds.He is close to all who call him,who call on him from their hearts.All: The Lord is compassionate to all his creatures.

D 7 (208) (Psalm 148)Reader: Let all praise the name of the Lord.All: Let all praise the name of the Lord.Praise the Lord from the heavens,praise him in the heights.Praise him, all his angels,praise him, all his hosts.All: Let all praise the name of the Lord.

Praise him, sun and moon,praise him, shining stars.Praise him, highest heavensand the waters above the heavens.All: Let all praise the name of the Lord.

All mountains and hills,all fruit trees and cedars,beasts, wild and tame,reptiles and birds on the wing.All: Let all praise the name of the Lord.

All earth’s kings and peoples,earth’s princes and rulers:young men and maidens,old men together with children. All: Let all praise the name of the Lord.

Let them praise the name of the Lordfor he alone is exalted.The splendour of his namereaches beyond heaven and earth. All: Let all praise the name of the Lord.

OPTIONS E SECOND READINGChoose one of the options and insert into your booklet.

E 1 (188)Reader: A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans (8:31-35, 37-39)With God on our side who can be against us? Since God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give. Could anyone accuse those that God has chosen? When God acquits, could anyone condemn? Could Christ Jesus? No! He not only died for us – he rose from the dead, and there at God’s right hand he stands and pleads for us. Nothing therefore can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us. For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

E 2 (189)Reader: A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans (12:1-2, 9-18)Think of God’s mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do. Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your special care. Bless those who persecute you: never curse them, bless them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friends with the poor. Do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied. Never repay evil with evil but let everyone see that you are interested only in the highest ideals. Do all you can to live at peace with everyone. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

E 3 (190)Reader: A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (15:1b-3a, 5-7, 13)We who are strong have a duty to put up with the qualms of the weak without thinking of ourselves. Each of us must consider his neighbours and help them to become stronger Christians. Christ did not think of himself. And may he who helps us when we refuse to give up, help you all to be tolerant with each other, following the example of Christ Jesus, so that united in mind and voice you may give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the God of hope bring you such joy and peace in your faith that the power of the Holy Spirit will remove all bounds to hope. The word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

E 4 (191)Reader: A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians. (6:13c-15a,17-20)The body is not meant for fornication; it is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. God, who raised the Lord from the dead, will by his power raise us up too. You know, surely, that your bodies are members making up the body of Christ. But anyone who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. Keep away from fornication. All the other sins are committed outside the body; but to fornicate is to sin against your own body. Your body, you know, is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you since you received him from God. You are not your own property; you have been bought and paid for. That is why you should use your body for the glory of God. The word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

E 5 (192)Reader: A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians (12:31-13:8a)Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is better than any of them. If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a symbol clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever. Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

E 6 (193)Reader: A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Ephesians (4:1-6)I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness, and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

*E 7 (194)Reader: A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians (5:2a, 21-33)Follow Christ by loving as he loved you, giving himself up in our place. Give way to one another in obedience to Christ. Wives should regard their husbands as they regard the Lord, since as Christ is head of the Church and saves the whole body, so is a husband the head of his wife; and as the Church submits to Christ, so should wives to their husbands, in everything. Husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her in water with a form of words, so that when he took her to himself she would be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and faultless. In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies; for a man to love his wife is for him to love himself. A man never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is the way Christ treats the Church, because it is his body – and we are its living parts. For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one body. This mystery has many implications; but I am saying it applies to Christ and the Church. To sum up: you too, each one of you, must love his wife as he loves himself; and let every wife respect her husband. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

E 8 (195)Reader: A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Philippians (4:4-9)I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near. There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

E 9 (196)Reader: A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Colossians (3:12-17)You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful. Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

E 10 (197)Reader: A reading from the letter to the Hebrews (13:1-4a,5-6b)Continue to love each other like brothers, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Keep in mind those who are being badly treated, since you too are in the body. Marriage is to be honoured by all. Put greed out of your lives and be content with whatever you have; God himself has said: I shall not fail you or desert you. With the Lord on my side, I fear nothing: what can man do to me? The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

*E 11 (198)Reader: A reading from the first letter of St Peter (3:1-9)Wives should be obedient to your husbands. Then if there are some husbands who do not believe the word, they may find themselves won over, without a word spoken, by the way their wives behave, when they see how faithful and conscientious they are. Do not dress up for show: doing up your hair, wearing gold bracelets and fine clothes; all this should be inside, in a person’s heart, imperishable: the ornament of a sweet and gentle disposition – this is what precious in the sight of God. That was how the holy women of the past dressed themselves attractively – they hoped in God and were tender and obedient to their husbands; like Sarah, who was obedient to Abraham, and called him her lord. You are now her children, as long as you live good lives free from fear and worry. In the same way, husbands must always treat their wives with consideration in their life together, respecting a woman as one who, though she may be the weaker partner, is equally an heir to the life of grace. This will prevent anything from coming in the way of your prayers. Finally: you should all agree among yourselves and be sympathetic; love the brothers, have compassion and be self-effacing. Never repay one wrong with another one; instead, pay back with a blessing. That is what you are called to do, so that you inherit a blessing. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

E 12 (199)Reader: A reading from the first letter of St John (3:18-24)My children, our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active; only by this can we be certain that we are children of the truth and be able to quieten our conscience in his presence, whatever accusations it may raise against us, because God is greater than our conscience and he knows everything. My dear people, if we cannot be condemned by our own conscience, we need not be afraid in God’s presence, and whatever we ask him, we shall receive, because we keep his commandments and live the kind of life that he wants. His commandments are these: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another as he told us to. Whoever keeps his commandments lives in God and God lives in him. We know that he lives in us by the Spirit that he has given us. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

E 13 (200)Reader: A reading from the first letter of St John (4:7-12)My dear people, let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love. God’s love for us was revealed when God sent into the world his only Son so that we could have life through him; this is the love I mean: not our love for God, but God’s love for us when he sent his Son to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away. My dear people, since God has loved us so much, we too should love one another. No one has ever seen God; but as long as we love one another God will live in us and his love will be complete in us. The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

E 14 (201) (It is appropriate to use this reading in the Easter Season)Reader: A reading from the book of the Apocalypse (19:1, 5-9)I, John, seemed to hear the great sound of a huge crowd in heaven, singing, ‘Alleluia! Victory and glory and power to our God!’ Then a voice came from the throne; it said, ‘Praise our God, you servants of his and all who, great or small, revere him.’ And I seemed to hear the voices of a huge crowd, like the sound of the ocean or the great roar of thunder, answering, ‘Alleluia! The reign of the Lord our God Almighty has begun; let us be glad and joyful and give praise to God, because this is the time for the marriage of the Lamb. His bride is ready, and she has been able to dress herself in dazzling white linen, because her linen is made of the good deeds of the saints.’ The angel said, ‘Write this: Happy are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’ The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

OPTIONS F GOSPEL ACCLAMATIONChoose one of the options and insert into your booklet. Outside the Lenten Season you must choose options F1 – F4. During the Lenten Season you must choose options F5 – F8.

F 1 (209)All: Alleluia, alleluia! Everyone who loves, is born of God and knows him. Alleluia!

F 2 (210)All: Alleluia, alleluia! God is love; let us love one another as he has loved us Alleluia!

F 3 (211)All: Alleluia, alleluia!If we love one another, God will live in us in perfect love Alleluia!

F 4 (212)All: Alleluia, alleluia!All who live in love, live in God, and God in them Alleluia!

The following options are only to be used during the Lenten Season.

F 5 (209L)All: Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.Everyone who loves is born of God and knows him Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

F 6 (210L)All: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. God is love; let us love one another as he has loved us Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

F 7 (211L)All: Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.If we love one another, God will live in us in perfect love Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

F 8 (212L)All: Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ.All who live in love, live in God, and God in them Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ.

OPTIONS G GOSPEL READINGChoose one of the options and insert into your booklet.

G 1 (213) Priest: The Lord be with you.All: And with your spirit.Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to MatthewAll: Glory to you Lord. (5:1-12)Priest: Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them: ‘How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage. Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted. Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied. Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them. Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God. Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God. Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’ The Gospel of the Lord.All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

G 2 (214) Priest: The Lord be with you.All: And with your spirit.Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to MatthewAll: Glory to you Lord. (5:13-16)Priest: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men. ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’ The Gospel of the Lord.All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

G 3 (215) Priest: The Lord be with you.All: And with your spirit.Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to MatthewAll: Glory to you Lord. (7:21, 24-29)Priest: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. ‘Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’ Jesus had now finished what he wanted to say, and his teaching made a deep impression on the people because he taught them with authority, and not like their own scribes. The Gospel of the Lord.All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

*G 4 (216) Priest: The Lord be with you.All: And with your spirit.Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to MatthewAll: Glory to you Lord. (19:3-6)Priest: Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and to test him they said, ‘Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?’ He answered, ‘Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’ The Gospel of the Lord.All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

G 5 (217) Priest: The Lord be with you.All: And with your spirit.Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to MatthewAll: Glory to you Lord. (22:35-40) Priest: A lawyer, to disconcert Jesus, put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’ The Gospel of the Lord.All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

*G 6 (218) Priest: The Lord be with you.All: And with your spirit.Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to MarkAll: Glory to you Lord. (10:6-9)Priest: Jesus said, ‘From the beginning of creation God made them male and female. This is why a man must leave father and mother, and the two become one body. They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’ The Gospel of the Lord.All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

*G 7 (219) Priest: The Lord be with you.All: And with your spirit.Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to JohnAll: Glory to you Lord. (2:1-11)Priest: There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. When they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the wedding was all finished, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said, ‘Woman, why turn to me? My hour has not come yet.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water,’ and they filled them to the brim. ‘Draw some out now,’ he told them, ‘and take it to the steward.’ They did this; the steward tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from – only the servants who had drawn the water knew – the steward called the bridegroom and said, ‘People generally serve the best wine first, and keep the cheaper sort till the guests have had plenty to drink; but you have kept the best wine till now.’ This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was given at Cana in Galilee. He let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him. The Gospel of the Lord.All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

G 8 (220) Priest: The Lord be with you.All: And with your spirit.Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to JohnAll: Glory to you Lord. (15:9-12)Priest: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.’ The Gospel of the Lord.All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

G 9 (221) Priest: The Lord be with you.All: And with your spirit.Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to JohnAll: Glory to you Lord. (15:12-16)Priest: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I shall not call you servants any more, because a servant does not know his master’s business; I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; and then the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name.’ The Gospel of the Lord.All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

G 10 (222) Priest: The Lord be with you.All: And with your spirit.Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to JohnAll: Glory to you Lord. (17:20-26)Priest: Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: ‘Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me. May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me. I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one. With me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you who sent me and that I have loved them as much as you loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Father, Righteous One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me. I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.’ The Gospel of the Lord.All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

OPTIONS H GIVING OF CONSENT (Marriage Vows)Choose one of the three options and insert into your booklet.

H 1 (62)N1: I, N1., take you, N2., to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.N2: I, N2., take you, N1., to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.

H 2 (62b)N1: I, N1., take you, N2., for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better and for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. N2: I, N2., take you, N1., for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better and for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

H 3 (63)The priest asks the bridegroom: N1, do you take N2. to be your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and honour her all the days of your life?N1: I do.The priest asks the bride: N2., do you take N1. to be your husband? Do you promise to be faithful to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and honour him all the days of your life?N2: I do.

OPTIONS I

I 1 (64)Priest: May the Lord in his kindness strengthen the consent you have declared before the Church, and graciously bring to fulfillment his blessings within you. What God joins together, let no one put asunder. All: Amen.

I 2 (64b)Priest: May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God who joined together our first parents in paradise, strengthen and bless in Christ the consent you have declared before the Church so that what God joins together, no one may put asunder.All: Amen.

OPTIONS JBLESSING OF THE RINGS

J 1 (66)Priest: May the Lord bless these rings which you will give to each other as a sign of love and fidelity.All: Amen.

J 2 (229)Priest: Bless, O Lord, these rings, which we bless in your name, so that those who wear them may remain entirely faithful to each other, abide in peace and in your will, and live always in mutual charity. Through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.

J 3 (230)Priest: Bless and sanctify your servants in their love, O Lord, and let these rings, a sign of their faithfulness, remind them of their love for one another. Through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.

OPTIONS K PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL Two alternative sets of prayers are given. You may adapt any of the prayers to make them suitable for your particular circumstances.

K 1 Priest: My dear friends, let us pray to the Lord that he will make known to N1. and N2. the riches of their vocation in marriage.

Reader: Unite them in love and fidelity as Christ is united with his Church. Lord, hear us.All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader: Help them to make a home together, and grace it with hospitality, friendship and prayer. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader: That they may minister the grace of marriage to each other in their joys and sorrows, in their hopes and disappointments. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader: Bless their family and friends who share this day with them. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader: Renew the grace of marriage in all families and assist us to share your love with others. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Priest: Father, you are love itself, and you have made man and woman in your likeness. Hear our prayers for N1. and N2. May they bring your love to others throughout the years of their marriage. We ask this through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.

K 2Priest: My dear friends, let us ask God to bless N1. and N2. in their marriage and to unite them in love through his Holy Spirit.

Reader: For N1. and N2., that their love for each other may continue to grow in the peace of Christ. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader: For the parents of N. and N., that they may be an example of love to their children. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader: For all married couples here today, that witnessing N1. and N2. making their commitment of love, they may renew their love for one another. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader: For all that are gathered here today to celebrate with N1. and N2., that God will bless them and watch over them. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Priest: Father, you are a God of love, and through your Son you have taught us to love one another. May N1. and N2., in their marriage, take Christ’s love into the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

OPTIONS L NUPTIAL BLESSING Choose one of the three options and insert into your booklet. These words are omitted when Mass is not celebrated. ** These words are omitted if not appropriate.

L 1 (73-4)Priest: Dear brothers and sisters, let us humbly pray to the Lord that on these his servants, now married in Christ, he may mercifully pour out the blessings of his grace and make of one heart in love (*by the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood) those he has joined by a holy covenant.(All pray silently for a short while. Then the priest extends his hands and continues)O God, who by your mighty power created all things out of nothing, and, when you had set in place the beginnings of the universe, formed man and woman in your own image, making the woman an inseparable helpmate to the man, that they might no longer be two, but one flesh, and taught that what you were pleased to make one must never be divided;O God, who consecrated the bond of Marriage by so great a mystery that in the wedding covenant you foreshadowed the Sacrament of Christ and his Church;O God, by whom woman is joined to man and the companionship they had in the beginning is endowed with the one blessing not forfeited by original sin nor washed away by the flood.Look now with favour upon these your servants, joined together in Marriage, who ask to be strengthened by your blessing. Send down on them the grace of the Holy Spirit and pour you love into their hearts, that they may remain faithful in the Marriage covenant.May the grace of love and peace abide in your daughter N, and let her always follow the example of those holy women whose praises are sung in the Scriptures. May her husband entrust his heart to her, so that, acknowledging her as his equal and his joint heir to the life of grace, he may show her due honour and cherish her always with the love that Christ has for his Church.And now, Lord, we implore you: may these your servants hold fast to the faith and keep your commandments; made one in the flesh, may they be blameless in all they do; and with the strength that comes from the Gospel, may they bear true witness to Christ before all; (**may they be blessed with children, and prove themselves virtuous parents, who live to see their children’s children).And grant that, reaching at last together the fullness of years for which they hope, they may come to the life of the blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Christ our Lord.All: Amen

L 2 (241-2)Priest: Let us pray to the Lord for this bride and groom, who come to the altar as they begin their married life, that (*partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ) they may always be bound together by love for one another.(All pray silently for a short while. Then the priest extends his hands and continues.)Holy Father, who formed man in your own image, male and female you created them, so that husband and wife, united in body and heart, they might fulfill their calling in the world;O God, who, to reveal the great design you formed in your love, willed that the love of spouses for each other should foreshadow the covenant you graciously made with your people, so that, by fulfillment of the sacramental sign, the mystical marriage of Christ with his Church might become manifest in the union of husband and wife among your faithful;Graciously stretch out your right hand over these your servants (N1 and N2), we pray, and pour into their hearts the power of the Holy Spirit.Grant, O Lord, that, as they enter upon this sacramental union, they may share with one another the gifts of your love and, by being for each other a sign of your presence, become one heart and one mind.May they also sustain, O Lord, by their deeds the home they are forming (**and prepare their children to become members of your heavenly household by raising them in the way of the Gospel).Graciously crown with your blessings your daughter N2, so that, by being a good wife (**and mother), she may bring warmth to her home with a love that is pure and adorn it with welcoming graciousness.Bestow a heavenly blessing also, O Lord, on N1, your servant, that he may be a worthy, good and faithful husband (**and a provident father).Grant, holy Father, that, desiring to approach your table as a couple joined in Marriage in your presence, they may one day have the joy of taking part in your great banquet in heaven.Through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.

L 3 (243-4)Priest: Let us humbly invoke by our prayers, dear brothers and sisters, God’s blessings upon this bride and groom, that in his kindness he may favour with his help those on whom he has bestowed the Sacrament of Matrimony.(All pray silently for a short while. Then the priest extends his hands and continues.)Holy Father, maker of the whole world, who created man and woman in your own image and willed that their union be crowned with your blessing, we humbly beseech you for these your servants, who are joined today in the Sacrament of Matrimony.May your abundant blessing, Lord, come down upon this bride, N2, and upon N1, her companion for life, and may the power of your Holy Spirit set their hearts aflame from on high, so that, living out together the gift of Matrimony, they may (**adorn their family with children and) enrich the Church.In happiness may they praise you, O Lord, in sorrow may they seek you out; may they have the joy of your presence to assist them in their toil, and know that you are near to comfort them in their need; let them pray to you in the holy assembly and bear witness to you in the world, and after a happy old age, together with the circle of friends that surrounds them, may they come to the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.

*These words are omitted when Mass is not celebrated.** These words are omitted if not appropriate.

OPTIONS M NUPTIAL BLESSING

M 1 (171-2)Priest: Let us humbly invoke God’s blessings upon this bride and groom, that in his kindness he may favour with his help those on whom he has bestowed the bond of Marriage.(All pray silently for a short while. Then the priest extends his hands and continues.)Holy Father, maker of the whole world, who created man and woman in your own image and willed that their union be crowned with your blessing, we humbly beseech you for these your servants, who are joined today in the Marriage covenant.May your abundant blessing, Lord, come down upon this bride, N2, and upon N1, her companion for life, and may the power of your Holy Spirit set their hearts aflame from on high, so that, living out together the gift of Matrimony, they may be known for the integrity of their conduct (**and be recognised as virtuous parents).In happiness may they praise you, O Lord, in sorrow may they seek you out; may they have the joy of your presence to assist them in their toil, and know that you are near to comfort them in their need; and after a happy old age, together with the circle of friends that surrounds them, may they come to the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.

M 2 (173)Priest: Let us humbly invoke God’s blessings upon this bride and groom, that in his kindness he may favour with his help those on whom he has bestowed the bond of Marriage.(All pray silently for a short while. Then the priest extends his hands and continues.)Blessed are you, Lord God, creator and sustainer of the human race, who in the union of husband and wife have left a true image of your love.May our abundant blessing, Lord, come down upon this bride, N2., and upon N1., her companion for life, and may the power of your Holy Spirit set their hearts aflame from on high, so that, living out together the gift of Matrimony, they may be known for the integrity of their conduct (**and be recognised as virtuous parents).In happiness may they praise you, O Lord, in sorrow may they seek you out; may they have the joy of your presence to assist them in their toil, and know that you are near to comfort them in their need; and after a happy old age, together with the circle of friends that surrounds them, may they come to the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.

OPTIONS N FINAL BLESSINGChoose one of the three options and insert into your booklet.

N 1 (248)Priest: May God the eternal Father keep you of one heart in love for one another, that the peace of Christ may dwell in you and abide always in your home.All: Amen.

Priest: May you (**be blessed in your children,) have solace in your friends and enjoy true peace with everyone.All: Amen.

Priest: May you be witnesses in the world to God’s charity so that the afflicted and the needy who have known your kindness may one day receive you thankfully into the eternal dwelling of God.All: Amen.

Priest: And may almighty God bless all of you, who are gathered here, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.All: Amen.

N 2 (249)Priest: May God, the all-powerful Father, grant you his joy (**and bless you in your children).All: Amen.

Priest: May the Only Begotten Son of God stand by you with compassion in good times and in bad.All: Amen.

Priest: May the Holy Spirit of God always pour forth his love into your hearts.All: Amen.

Priest: And may almighty God bless all of you, who are gathered here, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.All: Amen.

N 3 (250)Priest: May the Lord Jesus, who graced the marriage at Cana by his presence, bless you and your loved ones.All: Amen.

Priest: May he, who loved the Church to the end, unceasingly pour out his love into your hearts.All: Amen.

Priest: May the Lord grant that, bearing witness to faith in his Resurrection, you may await with joy the blessed hope to come.All: Amen.

Priest: And may almighty God bless all of you, who are gathered here, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.All: Amen.

*These words are omitted when Mass is not celebrated.** These words are omitted if not appropriate.